My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

Rachel set the cake box down on a stone table and opened it. Before she could even offer some

is

‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into

Julian stopped her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake, what should we

be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a

must sing the ‘Happy Birthday’

her eyes and

Rachel must blow out the

Julian that there was no need to go to such

still lit the candles and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a

lowered her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even

made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles

thank you!” their parents instructed,

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and the whole

Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days.

building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your

I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s expression was dull

bringing up the child, he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been

and headed toward the

inside her apartment and about

loud slam, the door was propped

her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like

out on business?

he slid sideways into the house and

“I see you’ve been getting along fine

steps back. Why are

he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the couch.

like unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want

by step he approached her, forcing her

had no idea what she

pulled, she staggered after him and was dragged all the